How To Actively Pursue Community and Increase Your Social Health By Elana van Deventer
Although we are more connected, we are more isolated, disconnected and lonely than ever.
In fact, loneliness is one of the leading causes of death in our world today. Tragically, studies indicate that loneliness impacts our overall well-being and increases the risk of premature mortality among all ages, making it a growing public health hazard.
Whether we like having alone time or not, we all need community. In fact, engaging positively with people correlates with a number of desirable physical and mental outcomes.
Community involvement has been associated with mental health and cognitive resilience, reduction of chronic pain, lower blood pressure, and improved cardiovascular health.
By its very nature, we cannot fix loneliness by ourselves. Actively choosing a community mindset to increase our social health is vital to thrive in life.
Here are some tips on how to actively pursue community & increase your social health:
Have Meaningful Discussions: Make your conversations matter, whether speaking with your spouse while making dinner, your kids in the car to school, grabbing coffee with a colleague, or at lunch with a friend. Take the time to listen to people's stories. Everyone has a unique story and something to share—something you can learn from. Be sure not just to hear but try to listen to people without judgment.
Switch off Your Phone: The average person spends up to eight hours a day using technology. Find ways to limit your use of technology throughout the day and increase your face-to-face interaction. Maybe put your phone aside when you are eating. Or leave it at home when you go for a walk.
Volunteer & reach out: Serving others is a wonderful way to become part of a meaningful community, improving both your mental and physical health—studies show how helping others can increase your own chance of healing! Psychosomatic Medicine: Journal of Biobehavioral Medicine found that giving had greater benefits than receiving.
Participants in the study who gave help showed reduced stress and increased feelings of reward in their brain imaging. This research concludes that when you help others, you're also helping yourself. Join a local institution, church or non-profit organization and see what you can do to help.
Be Friendly: When in a small space with a stranger, such as an elevator, smile and say hello instead of looking at the floor or your phone. Think of ways to start a conversation.
Get Out the House: Think about what you could do to get out of the house and foster community in your area.
Perhaps start a book club, a hiking meet-up or arrange dinner parties and invite someone new each time. Get to know your neighbours and invite them for a walk, coffee, or join a local community or church. The possibilities are endless. This may be a little uncomfortable initially, but remember, everyone loves to be included, and you never know who's struggling with loneliness. The simple act of reaching out may be what helps someone heal. If you are struggling with loneliness, talk to someone. Finding life difficult at times is not something to be ashamed of.
Elana van Deventer is a speaker, author and one of the pioneer Neurocycle facilitators trained and certified by Dr. Caroline Leaf. She's obsessed with restoring hope in hearts and minds through scripture and science & helping others unblock themselves to reach their full potential.